From The Senate-Oceans management key to future of Cape Cod

Thursday

May 22, 2008 at 2:00 AMMay 22, 2008 at 10:00 PM

Our oceans and coastline are a significant part of the economy, history, and identity of Cape Cod and the entire Commonwealth. It is essential that we treat the ocean with the consideration we treat our land. However, the ocean is the last great undeveloped stretch, and is currently free from any regulations governing its development. It is alarming to think that while we have well-established laws for planning how we use our land, development regulations for our oceans are quite literally uncharted territory.

Senator Therese Murray

Our oceans and coastline are a significant part of the economy, history, and identity of Cape Cod and the entire Commonwealth. It is essential that we treat the ocean with the consideration we treat our land. However, the ocean is the last great undeveloped stretch, and is currently free from any regulations governing its development. It is alarming to think that while we have well-established laws for planning how we use our land, development regulations for our oceans are quite literally uncharted territory. Recognizing the need for laws to govern that process, Senator (Rob) O’Leary authored legislation in 2007 that would provide an oceans management plan for the Commonwealth. In September of last year, the Senate overwhelmingly supported that legislation. The House of Representative version of the bill differed slightly and a compromise bill, hammered out by Senate and House conferees, emerged from conference committee on May 8,2008. The Senate voted unanimously on May 15 to accept the compromise oceans management bill that will allow Massachusetts to manage its territorial waters and ensure a public voice and state oversight of development projects. The compromise bill is a balanced, comprehensive piece of legislation that represents the best interests of both the Senate and the House of Representatives and the future care of our oceans. Under the compromise legislation an ocean management plan will be utilized incorporating the best available scientific understandings of marine and ocean resources, mapping, monitoring, and other data. Under the authority of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the management plan would be developed by a 16-member commission, which will include state agency representatives, legislators, municipal officials, and environmental, fishing and industry stakeholders. The final plan will guide how state environmental agencies interpret, monitor and enforce the environmental laws of the Commonwealth. It will also set a standard framework to judge future ocean development proposals for state-owned waters which encompass approximately three nautical miles from the coastline. The legislation permits the development of appropriately-scaled renewable energy sources in areas identified in, and in a manner consistent with, the ocean management plan. At the same time, we ensure that safeguards are included for the treatment of fisheries, recognizing the central role that commercial and recreational fishing plays in our economy, and set up an ocean science advisory council of marine scientists, non-profits, government agencies, and fishing interests to assist the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in analyzing our ocean resources. This legislation is a proactive measure that will give the Commonwealth the tools necessary to make responsible decisions about any development in our territorial waters, while ensuring that the unique ocean environment is protected and our fishing industry is secure. Cape Cod is synonymous with the ocean. It is the state’s responsibility to protect it. Senate President Therese Murray represents Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich, and Pcts. 10, 11, and 12 in Barnstable.